Care Conversations 21 | What is the Intent of our Discipline?
Given all that we have said so far, we need to have a focus on the purpose and the outcome of our discipline of young people. We have suggested the words: repentance, restitution, reconciliation and restoration.
Our perspectives and practices of discipline will arise from our understanding of the nature of God and the nature of humans.
We will discipline because we love our students; because we know that we, and they, are loved by God. We will love well, when we know we are loved well.
We will use our God-given authority wisely and graciously.
We will seek to communicate clear expectations. These will focus on doing what is right and honouring to God and helpful and respectful to people.
Our approaches to discipline will progressively and intentionally move responsible decision making to the maturing young person. We will make sure that our discipline is age and stage appropriate.
Discipline is essential in building character so that young people are capable of responding with integrity in any situation.
We will discipline with hope – a hopeful expectation that young people will know the grace, love and holiness of God. That they will experience the redemptive grace of Jesus, the enabling of the Holy Spirit and thus see the dignity of every person.
We will look for genuine repentance when wrong thinking, behaviours and attitudes are confronted.
Forgiveness is crucial for harmonious community life.
We will encourage our young people to make restitution for harm that they may have caused.
We will earnestly seek the reconciliation of all relationships and any disharmony.
We will seek to restore those who have been harmed and those who have offended.
In our discipline we will correct and encourage with firmness and grace. Having corrected we will have a mindset of, “When it’s done; it’s done”. We will not revisit past situations which have been dealt with.
There is so much more we could say.
I realise that some people may be looking for techniques and strategies for discipline and classroom management. These can be useful – but that has not been the major focus of these conversations.
For those who would like such assistance; we can certainly point to a number of useful resources. But please do not start with techniques and resources – understanding Biblical principles is the foundation.
Blessings
Brian